Calf puller



Malrch s, 1956 D. M. WILLMAN CALF FULLER Filed June 22, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent CALF PULLER Dimond M. Willman, Hillsboro, Ohio Application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,001

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-352) This invention pertains to animal husbandry, and more particularly a new and improved means for extricating an unborn calf from the mother cow when the natural means of birth fails for any of several reasons. It is presumed that veterinarians will find this invention useful when confronted with the conditions stated. The invention presents a compact, handy means of exerting the necessary force to remove the unborn animal with little difliculty.

The attached drawing will serve to illustrate, without limiting, the features embodied in this invention.

Figure 1 is a pictorial view of the invention with the top rotated slightly toward the observer and the various components shown in their approximate proper proximity.

Figure 2 is a plan view of an extension utilized as an auxiliary component of the invention.

Figure 3 is a pictorial view showing the spring loaded ratchet holding pawl mounted on the reverse side of the housing of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a pictorial view of the roller chain sprocket mounted Within the housing.

Figure 5 is a pictorial view presenting an alternate construction which the inventor expressly wishes to be contained in the embodiment of his idea.

Referring to the details of the invention as set forth on the drawing the apparatus is composed of a tubular member 1 to which is attached a handle 2. A housing 4 is firmly attached to the tube 1 and supports a shaft 8 to which is attached a reversible ratchet wrench 3. The housing cover 5 is held in place by a common machine screw 6. Aflixed to the shaft 8 and contained in the housing is the drive sprocket 16 over'which the roller chain is passed. The chain is guided by the upper guide tube 7 and the lower guide tube 9 which are firmly afiixed to the housing and tube 1 respectively. At the other end of the tube 1 the chain 10 passes over a pulley wheel 12 which turns in a slot in the tube. The hook 11 is firmly aflixed to the chain in the position shown.

The butt plate 14 is equipped with a socket which mates in a free fit with that end of the tube 1 shown in close proximity to it on the drawing. The two leather straps 13 and 15 are affixed to fittings at the ends of the butt plate and these straps may be joined by means of the buckle provided.

Figure 2 shows an extension member which fits between and mates with the end of the tube 1 and the socket of the butt plate 14 thereby lengthening the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a view of the reverse side of the housing 4 (referring to Figure 1) showing details of the ratchet pawl device which serves to prevent the release of any tension exerted on the chain by the hook. The ratchet wheel 17 being firmly pinned to the shaft 8 may rotate freely in a clockwise direction thus permitting the hook to travel toward the housing, but any reverse rotation or travel of the hook is restricted by the catch 18 until "ice such time it is pivoted free of the periphery of the ratchet wheel 17 by sufficient pressure on the wire thumb rest 19 to overcome tension in the spring 21.

Figure 4 presents details of the roller chain sprocket 16 mounted on the center of the shaft 8 and firmly afiixed to it by a drive pin through the hole 16a.

Figure 5 is an alternate construction in which a reel 22 is utilized in place of, but in much the same manner as the sprocket wheel 16. Such construction permits the use of wire rope 23 in place of the roller chain 10. A loop of wire rope replacing the chain has its ends attached to the reel 22 and sufficient length coiled thereon to permit full travel of the hook which, in this case, is affixed to the wire rope. Attachment of the reel to the shaft 9 is carried out in a similar manner to that by which the sprocket 16 is attached.

Following is a description of the manner in which the invention is put to use: Upon ascertaining that the mother animal cannot proceed with a natural birth, and it becomes necessary to forcibly remove the unborn animal the butt plate 14 is positioned against the animals rump with the support straps 13 and 15 buckled over the animals back. The end of the tube 1 is inserted in the socket of the butt plate 14. A loop of light wire or rope is secured to some portion of the unborn animal and then passed through the hook 11. The operator then actuates the ratchet handle 3 in such a manner as to cause the hook 11 to move toward the housing 4. While this is being carried out the apparatus is supported by the operators left hand grasping the handle 2. The above operations are repeated as many times as necessary, each time repositioning the tie rope (or wire) on the unborn animals limbs or body and returning the hook 11 to its furthermost position to afford full travel. Its small end fits the socket 013 the butt plate 14 and its large ends accommodates the end of the tube 1. The hook may have its direction of travel reversed by releasing the holding pawl 18, reversing the catch and actuating the ratchet handle 3 as required.

What I claim as new is:

1. A calf puller comprising a butt plate, an elongated shaft having a handle at one end thereof, means at the end of the shaft opposite to the handle for attaching said shaft to said butt plate, an idler sprocket mounted in said shaft adjacent to the butt plate end thereof for rotation about an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, an endless chain engaged around said idler sprocket, said chain extending from said idler sprocket toward the handle end of said shaft with one of the runs of the chain being above said shaft and the other one of the runs thereof being below said shaft, a drive sprocket adjacent to the handle end of said shaft, said chain engaged around said drive sprocket, ratchet means mounted upon said shaft adjacent to the handle end thereof for driving said drive sprocket, and a hook secured to said chain on the upper run thereof, said hook adapted to be pulled toward said drive sprocket upon the actuation of said ratchet means.

2. A calf puller comprising a butt plate, an elongated shaft, socket means to engage one end of said shaft with said butt plate, a handle at the end of said shaft opposite to said socket means, a housing mounted upon said shaft adjacent to the handle end thereof, a roller chain sprocket mounted in said housing, an endless roller chain engaged around said sprocket and extending forwardly from the handle end of said shaft with a lower run below said shaft and an upper run above said shaft, the forward end of said endless roller chain engaged around an idler sprocket, said idler sprocket mounted in said shaft for rotation about an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, ratchet and pawl means to rotate said sprocket wheel for pulling the upper run of said chain toward said housing, tubular guides Refiemncas Qited in the file of this patent adjacent to said ilousing for enclosing and protecting UNITED STATES PATENTS Lhe roller chain In the area thereof ad acent to said N housing,xand a hook secured to the upper run of said 15485425 coulns 8, 1949 housing and adapted to be moved toward said housing 5 2,654,368 Matteson 1953 upon the actuation of said ratchet and pawl means. 

